on $100k a year, leaving Fayetteville

change
Lafayette, LA cityscape

swapping out of fayetteville

Lafayette

la · metro 414k

photo: Gage LaVergne / pexels

a dispatch from

lafayette

LA

30.22°N

92.02°W

Lafayette is the unofficial capital of Cajun country, with zydeco music spilling out of dance halls, crawfish boils that count as social events, and gumbo so dark and rich it should be served with a nap. Mardi Gras here is huge but more family-friendly than New Orleans. The food (boudin, etouffee, cracklins) is the main reason to be here. Friendly in a way that's hard to fake.

metro414k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$270

lighter monthly cost than Fayetteville

Lafayette gives you room Fayetteville doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

10% cheaper than Fayetteville(vs $1,477/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$125/mo less in state tax than Fayetteville

vs 4.5% in Fayetteville

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$270 more than Fayetteville

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$200k

22% cheaper than Fayetteville

vs $258k in Fayetteville

05metro size

414k

vs 392k in Fayetteville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Fayetteville only logs 193 pleasant days.

Fayetteville hosts 3.0× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

16% lower than Fayetteville

vs 51/100 in Fayetteville

Closest outdoor draw: Chicot State Park District II, 42.7 mi.

·walk score®

85/100

12% higher than Fayetteville

vs 76/100 in Fayetteville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

25% fewer than Fayetteville

vs 4 nonstops in Fayetteville

04 · see also

neighbors of lafayette on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

augusta

better park access

turn the page

see also

baton rouge

better park access

turn the page

see also

oklahoma city

more flight options

turn the page

compare lafayette with:

AugustaBaton RougeOklahoma City